The Global Jigsaw, What’s so-called 'Jihadi cool'?

The Global Jigsaw

What’s so-called 'Jihadi cool'?

24 July 2026

Available for over a year

The extremist content quietly spreading on TikTok and Instagram, targeting unsuspecting young people. Through what is disguised as innocuous lifestyle content, supporters of jihadist groups like IS and al-Qaeda reach audiences outside their echo chamber. This is a recruitment drive that signals a move from direct operational instructions to “do-it-yourself jihad", with the aim of potentially inspiring lone wolf attacks. We explore the tactics used to obscure and evade detection, the challenges this poses for platforms, and how it has become a relentless game of whack-a-mole.

Find out more about BBC Monitoring on our website: https://monitoring.bbc.co.uk/

Contributors: Mariam Soussi, Mina al-Lami

Producer: Kriszta Satori, Elchin Suleymanov

Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg

Music: Pete Cunningham